Just 20km south of Perth, the historic harbour city of Fremantle is enjoying a resurgence as a food-lover’s port of call. TV chef and author Anna Gare, a longtime local, shares a few favourite spots. For an iconic Fremantle experience, hit Little Creatures (40 Mews Rd) on the picturesque Fisherman’s Wharf. This giant hangar-like space, flanked by stainless-steel vats, manages to be welcoming, buzzy and slightly hectic from afternoon to after dark. “If you’re lucky, you might even get a massage from one of the waiters,” says Anna, who loves its offbeat feel as much as house brews including Bright Ale and Pipsqueak cider. Woodfired pizza leads a parade of moreish pub snacks, whether at a communal table inside or on a sunny perch on the deck over the water.

The giant Ootong & Lincoln (258 South Tce) meshes laid-back Freo cool with a smart food ethos. Upcycled and retro furniture set the relaxed tone. Better still, the coffee is bang-on and the breakfast excellent. Admire the display of antique tricycles over baked eggs or bircher muesli served in enamel bowls. Fresh juices and chia puddings flag a wholesome undercurrent to the menu, which extends into one of the best looking lunch cabinets around – salads with grunt, and flavour-filled patties, frittatas and bakes. “It’s a really simple concept,” says Anna. “Relaxed, great coffee, and really delicious cakes, too.”

Few have converted a fuel station with flair, but the Di Bella Roasting Warehouse (312 South Tce) has nailed it. There’s not a whiff of diesel in the space now inhabited by a sunny, elevated alfresco deck. “I just love the whole outside street scene,” says Anna. Take a deep breath at the take-home bean counter, where nine blends and various single-origin coffees are showcased. The reserve blend changes daily, plus there are cold drip and aeropress options befitting an outfit that seeks to serve every caffeine-related proclivity. For a frosty variation, try the coffee gelato by Perth’s Chicho Gelato.

A converted mechanics garage with long shared tables, Bread in Common (43 Pakenham St) nails the zeitgeist in a way that’s come to be expected from owner Nic Trimboli, the man behind other Perth favourites Il Lido, Balthazar and Gordon Street Garage. Part bakery, part dining room, its all about inventive seasonal menus and a cluey team. “It’s a bit different from anything else in Perth,” says Anna, who loves being greeted like an old friend, then treated to smart service and even smarter food. From brunch through dinner, chef Paul Walker honours texture and favour in conversation-stopping share plates such as swordfsh tataki with peas and crispy mushrooms, or baked jersey milk ricotta with edible fowers (right).

A converted mechanics garage with long shared tables, bread in Common (43 Pakenham St) nails the zeitgeist in a way that’s come to be expected from owner Nic Trimboli, the man behind other Perth favourites Il Lido, Balthazar and Gordon Street Garage. Part bakery, part dining room, its all about inventive seasonal menus and a cluey team. “It’s a bit different from anything else in Perth,” says Anna, who loves being greeted like an old friend, then treated to smart service and even smarter food. From brunch through dinner, chef Paul Walker honours texture and favour in conversation-stopping share plates such as swordfish tataki with peas and crispy mushrooms, or baked jersey milk ricotta with edible flowers.

There are only four things on the menu at This Little Piggy (259 Queen Victoria St), but they’re good, cheap and fun. Pulled pork and handmade tortillas are the stars at this BYO pop-up, which moonlights in the space normally inhabited by cafe Short Black Sheep. From Friday to Sunday nights, This Little Piggy serves hot rolls, tacos and chicken wings on disposable plates with lots of love and no fuss. It’s made plenty of fans by sticking to what it does well – and offering nifty ice cream sandwiches for dessert. “It has a real buzz about it,” says Anna.

Being at small bar Mrs Brown (241 Queen Victoria St) is a bit like being at a friend’s house – a friend with a well-stocked drinks cabinet who’s fond of secreting their wine list inside vintage hardcover children’s books. “People of all ages feel comfortable here,” says Anna. Expect a bustling, friendly crowd on a weekend night, while weekday evenings are made for pulling up a backgammon set on a lounge chair in one of two rooms (or the courtyard out the back) and making your way through a bottle of something, ably guided by the bar staff. Peckish? Bring in a burger from Flipside next door – it’s all in the family.

An unassuming side street is a fitting home for understated boutique hotel The Hougoumont (15 Bannister St). The foyer-cum-lounge serves as a hub where guests enjoy gratis wine, coffee and wifi , overlooked by a board with the names of the convicts who travelled to Fremantle on the eponymous ship in 1868. Rooms are fashioned out of shipping containers, and are decked out with everything you might need. The compact cabin rooms are good for the budget conscious, but if you like a roomy bathroom, go for a stateroom. The hotel also has an arrangement with nearby eatery Benny’s Bar & Cafe, so you can arrange for food to be delivered straight to your room.